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J. A. GUNN.

BILL 0F FARB. No. 479,758. Patented July 26, 1892.

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BILL 0F FARB.

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Patented July 26, 1892.

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J. A. GUNN. BILL 0F FARB.

No. 479,758. Patentedduly26,189z.

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- UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JOHN A. GUNN, OF SPEARFISH, SOUTH DAKOTA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ABRAHAM L. MAXIM AND IVOR L. BRIND, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA, AND DANIEL C. DWINNELL, OF SPEARFISH, SOUTH DAKOTA.

BILL OF FARE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 479,7 58, dated July 26, 1892.

Application led September 14,1891. Serial No. 405,659. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, JOHN A. GUNN, a citizen of the United States, residingat Spearsh, in Y the county of Lawrence and State of South Dakota, have invented a new and useful Bill of Fare, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a new and improved bill of fare, and has for its object the o productionof a cheap, simple, and highly-efficient bill of fare and order indicator, whereby the articles ordered or desired for each meal can be readily and easily indicated and accuracy in filling or serving the same is int 5 sured.

The invention consists, broadly, in forming a bill of fare in two parts or sections and providing the same with a column or columns of openings in front and back and a series of movable blocks having proper designations on their opposite faces, whereby the block indicating the desired article upon being moved so as to be concealed from viewon the front face of the board will be exposed through onel of the openings in the adjacent column on the other side or face, the blocks appearing on this latter side indicating all the articles ordered for the meal by any one guest.

The invention also comprises the detail construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, substantiallyl as hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan or front View of my improved bill of fare. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a similar View on the line y y', same figure. Fig. 4 is a plan View of one of the blocks or slides. Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view thereof. Fig. 6 is an end view of the same. Fig. 7 is a View showing the reverse side of the block or slide to that of Fig. 4. Fig. Sis an upper end view. Fig. 9 is a view showing the reverse side of Fig. 1. Fig. lO is a view showing one of the longitudinal side edges. Fig. 1l is a bottom or lower end view. Fig. l2 is a view showing the bill of fare as in Fig. l save that the parts or sections are opened and portions are broken away to show the manner of inserting the blocks or slides. Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional View, with parts broken away, of the joint and the retaining bar or arm. Fig. 14 is a transverse sectional View, taken through the meeting edges, of the parts or sections and the retaining-bar.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the main or body portion of my improved bill of fare, which is formed in two corresponding parts or sections d a', pivotally connected together at their lower meeting edges by a hinge a2. In the front board B are two co1'- responding columns ofopenings b, adjacent to the outer longitudinal side edges of the main or body portion, while in the back board B are two columns of openings b', corresponding to the columns b, but adjacent to the meet-V ing edges of the parts or sections d ct. Between the openings of each column are transverse bars b2, provided with opposite grooved faces. The solid portions of front board B form the backs or bottoms for the columns of openings b', and, likewise, the solid portions of the back board B form the backs or bottoms for the front columns of openings b. v The 75 openings of columns b are contiguous with and open into the openings of the adjacent columns b', facing rearward.

Between the upper ends of the front and back boards of parts or sections a aare secured metallic strips C C to add strength to the parts. The strip C of part or section Ct is extended into a short arm D, which, when the parts or sections are closed together, projects between the front and back boards B B of the 8 5 part or section d, and said parts or sections are held locked togetherby a plate-spring catch d, projecting from arm D, engaging a shoulder d of part or section a. A key d2 is designed to be inserted through a hole d3 in the top of part or section a to effect the disengagement of spring-catch CZ when the parts are to be opened, said key consisting of a pin or straight piece of wire, as shown.

In each of the openings in columns b is designed to be placed a block or slide E, which is of oblong shape, corresponding to that of the openings. To one longitudinal edge of each block E is secured a plate-spring e, which in the present instance is shown as being se- IOO cured at its center and as having free curved ends extending around two of the corner edges of the block. The free ends of the spring bear against the transverse bars b2. In each endof block E is a hole or groove e', into which is designed to be placed the end of a key E', by which each block may be moved from the opening of column b into the coincident opening of the adjacent column Z9. These blocks have indicated on their front and back faces the names of the different articles composing the bill of fare for any one meal and are divided off into courses under appropriate headings, which are also indicated by periodically-'arranged blocks. y

In the front board B is an upper central opening F, located at the meeting edges of the parts or sections. Into this opening is placed a blockf, indicating thereon the meal for which the bill of fare is given. VAt the lower end of the front board in part or section a are two openings ff2, the former exposing a block with the year indicated lthereon and the latter a block with the day of the week. Likewise in the other part or section a are two openings f3f4, the former for a block indicating the day of the month, which latter` is shown by a block in the openingf4. It being necessary to change the blocks indicating the day of the Week and month more vfrequently than those indicating the monthv and year, they are placed adjacent the meeting edges of the parts or sections, to facilitate the replacement thereof.

Gisalong arm, whose hinging plate g forms a part of hinge a2. This arm is located between the meeting edges of parts or sec-` tions a a and is designed to fit between the front and back boardsB B and bear against the ends of the transverse bars b2 to prevent the blocks or slides E of one part or section from falling out while the blocks or slides of the other part or section are being inserted in position. It also limits the inward movements of the blocks or slides.

Upon the back board B', near the upper end thereof, is a block or space h of suitable material, whereon is to be indicated the number of the table and chair occupied by the guest ordering. At the lower end of said back board maybe aspace h for the number of the waiter taking the order; but this is not necessary.

The operation or manner of using my improved bill of fare is as follows: The columns of openings b expose to view two series of blocks, whereon are indicated under appropriate course-headings the various dishes or articles composing the bill of fare, said blocks being first inserted while the parts or sections are opened, after which said parts or sections are closed and'held firmly united by the springcatch. The guest in ordering takes key E', and looking at the bill of fare, as shown in Fig. l, moves those blocks indicating the desired dishes toward the longitudinal center out' of the view he then has. Having indicated his full order by moving the blocks, a view of the reverse side of the bill of fare (see Fig. 9) will display in columns of openings b.

his entire order, the same servingas an accurate guide for filling the entire meal. The blocks after the order is filled can be returned to their normal position by the key E', and then the bill ofl fare is ready for the use of another guest.

The vadvantages of `my'invention are apparent, and" it will be especially observed that the same presents in a neat and safe manner the entire bill of fare and that accuracy in serving or filling an order is insured. It will also be observed that the device is extremely simple and not liable to get out 0f order and that it can be highly embellished or ornamentedto add to its attractiveness.

I claim as my invention- 1. The herein-described--improved bill of fare, having front and back boards' provided each with a column of openings, the openings of one column being contiguous with the openings of the adjacent columns, and one or more series of indicating-blocks having corresponding names or -marks on its opposite sides and capable of being moved from the openings of one column to the openings of the next adjacent column, and thus being visible on the other side of the bill of fare and concealed from view on the side at which first visible,

. and a pivoted bar or arm adjacent to one of said columns of openings for limiting the movement of said blocks in one direction, as set forth.

2. The herein-described bill of fare, composed of two parts or sections pivotally connected together at their lower meeting edges and capable of being locked together and having front and back boards, said front boards being provided with two columns of openings adjacent toetheir longitudinal edges and said back boards with two columns of openings adjacent to the said meeting edges of said parts or sections, and two series of indicating-blocks normally exposed to view through the said columns of openingsin said front boards, substantially as set forth.

3. The herein-described improved bill of fare, composed of two parts or sections pivotally connected together at their lower meeting edges, a pivoted bar or arm located between said meeting edges, each of said parts or sections having an outer front column of openings and an inner back column of openings contiguous with said former columns of openings, and indicating-blocks capable of being moved from one column of openings to the other or adjacent column, the blocks of one part or section being held in place by said bar or arm while the blocks are being placed in the other part or section, substantially as set forth.

4. The herein-described improved bill of fare, composed of two parts or sections pivotally connected together at their lower meeting edges, a pivoted bar or arm located between said meeting edges, each of said parts or sections having an outer front column of openings and an inner back column of open- IOO IIO

ings contiguous with said formercolumns. of openings, indicating-blocks capable ofbeing moved from one column of openings to the other or adjacent column, the blocks of one part or section being held in place by said bar or arm While the blocks are being placed in the other 1 part or sect-ion, and a springcatch projecting from one of said parts or sections for engaging and locking the other part or section, substantially as set forth.

5. The herein-described improved bill of fare, composed of two parts or sections having each front and back boards with an inter;

vening space, the hinge pivotally connecting,

said parts or sections together at their lower meeting edges, an arm extending from one of said parts or sections, and a plate-spring secured thereto and designed to engagea shoulg dertof the other part o1' section, said parts or. E sections-being provided each with two adja- Ato said formeropenin gs, and indicating-blocks located in said front column or columns 0f openings and capable of beingmoved into said backcolumn or columns of openings, substantially` as set forth.

JOHN A. GUN

Witnessesz DANL. T. POTTER,

R. G. WHITNEY.

It is hereby certified that Letters Patent No. 479,758, granted July26, 1892, upon the application of John A. Grunn, of Speariish, South Dakota,- for an improvement in Bills of Fare,7 was erroneously issued to John A. Gunn, Abraham L. Maxim, Ivor L. Brind, and Daniel G..Dwinnell, as joint owners of said invention; Whereas the patent should have been granted to said John A. Gunn and Daniel E. Dwinnell, they being sole owners of the ent-ire interest as shown by the assignments of record in the Patent Office; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction i therein that the same may conform to the record of the eas'enin the Patent Office.

Signed, oountersigned, and sealed this 9th day of August, A. D. 1892.

[SEAL] CYRUS BUSSEY,

Assistant Secretary of the Interior. Countersigned N. L. FROTHINGHAM,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

